Electronic Medical Records

Use EMR software to store records securely

Modern medical offices are making the move from paper to digital processes, and for good reason—electronic medical records (EMR) decrease both the cost and the amount of storage space that you need to devote to records. You'll probably agree that the time it takes to collate, copy, fax and transport a variety of records can be better spent tending to other matters.

The focus of electronic medical records systems is to organize and secure all of the important information that affects your practice and your patients. Every medical practice has a responsibility to safeguard records, but they also need to access them frequently. A well-designed EMR system can solve your storage issues, improve time-management and streamline your administration.

About Electronic Medical Records

Like other aspects of electronic medical practice management, EMRs are designed to track each phase of the patient encounter and organize the information for future use. The benefits to you as a healthcare practitioner are notable—you can prescribe electronically and you can have access to records from anywhere. In addition to the convenience that EMR software provides, you can rest assured that your record keeping will stand up to HIPAA standards and regulations. Choose an EMR system that takes all standards into consideration, from XML format to allow for easy data sharing to the DICOM standard for representing and communicating radiology images.

EMR Software

EMR software can be either kept in-house or accessed online; your choice will depend on your practice's IT capacity and your commitment to maintenance. If you choose a Web-based, or ASP, system, you will pay a monthly access fee in return for expert IT services that handle all technical aspects, while an internal system will likely come with a hefty start-up fee along with any necessary computer upgrading.

Since the move to an EMR system is a big decision, you may want to enlist the help of a consultant. There are plenty of EMR software vendors across the nation, and a consultant can compare top EMR vendors for you and even help get you a discount on software through their industry contacts. Furthermore, a consultant has the expertise needed to help implement any necessary hardware.

Whether you choose to use a consultant or do your own research, compare different versions by looking at the services they offer and their customer reviews. The electronic medical records software that you choose should be easy to use and should make your transition from paper-based to electronic records as seamless as possible.